Two Pussy Riot members flee Russia after police hunt

Two band members who managed to avoid arrest by Russian police have now left the country

The two members of Pussy Riot who managed to escape arrest have fled Russia.

Three members of the feminist punk group received two-year prison sentences on August 17 after being found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. The trio were arrested in February after they staged a flashmob style performance at Moscow’s main cathedral, protesting against the Orthodox Christian church’s support of president Vladimir Putin.

Pussy Riot wore their signature balaclavas during the performance and two group members were able to avoid being identified and arrested. Last week (August 21), Russian police confirmed that they were still searching for the elusive protesters.

Earlier today (August 26), Pussy Riot used their Twitter feed, which is written in their native Russian, to confirm that the two free members have left Russia. According to The Guardian, the group added that they are now “recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new protest actions”.

A raft of musicians, from Paul McCartney to Bjork and Franz Ferdinand, have spoken out in support of Pussy Riot. After they received guilty verdicts earlier this month (August), Madonna branded the decision to imprison the women “inhumane”.